Principal Mechanical Engineer Metals and Materials

Principal Mechanical Engineer Metals And Materials

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do  a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We're a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you're ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you'll find your purpose here.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. produces the da Vinci® Surgical System, a minimally invasive robotic surgery system that uses highly complex mechanics, replaceable instruments and accessories, and enhanced three-dimensional visualization to extend surgical technique and precision beyond the limits of the human hand. The Principal Engineer will strive to create the safest and highest quality devices for minimally invasive surgery through rigorous and robust technical analysis.

We are seeking a skilled Metals & Materials Technology Expert to join our Core Instruments team, focusing on the performance, reliability, and manufacturability of high-performance metallic materials used in robotic surgical instruments. The successful candidate must have strong technical depth and experience in metals, materials science, and reliability engineering to support the development and continuous improvement of surgical instruments for the da Vinci Surgical System.

Required Skills and Experience

• Deep expertise in metallurgy of high-performance alloys.
• Strong working knowledge of material selection criteria as applied to precision mechanical components with a focus for design for reliability and manufacturability.
• Proficiency in failure analysis and failure mechanics, including fatigue, fracture mechanics, fractography, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Hands-on experience with metallographic preparation, grain structure analysis, microstructural characterization, and analytical techniques (optical microscopy, SEM, EDS, XRD, hardness testing).
• Experience with manufacturing processes for metals such as MIM (metal injection molding), precision machining, forging, sintering, brazing, laser welding, and heat treatment.
• Proven experience developing products compliant with safety standards and regulatory requirements for medical devices (FDA, ISO 13485, ISO 14971).
• Lead by having a breadth of technical knowledge that enables a top-level view of the entire project. Act as an interface between various technical specialties. Take ownership of issues that cross disciplinary boundaries to ensure the success of the project.
• Contribute to design documentation throughout the entire product lifecycle such as risks, specifications, test protocols, results, and regulatory materials.
• Hands-on engineering experience with a proven ability to work well in a team environment.
• Proven expertise and desire to coach engineers to share knowledge and impart best practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across all levels and organizations.
• Desire to learn and resolve complex and challenging engineering problems.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of time

Required Education and Training

• Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering metallurgical Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience). Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience. Preferred significant focus on metals and materials in the medical device, aerospace, or precision manufacturing industry.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with the full…